Self-expanding and cleaning earth reamer



Dec 6, 1 938, E, H. ZUM-BERGE SELF EXPANDING AND CLEANING EARTH REAMERFiled April 26-,- 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l jf hzzzg ymia e INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 6, 1938.- E H ZUM-BERGE 2,139,323

SELF EXPANDING AND CLEANING EARTH REAMER Filed April 26, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 2 1 15. E-

INVENTOR.

o o c o wnuww ATTORNEY.

Dec. 6, 1938. E, H. ZUM-BERGE SELF- EXPANDING AND CLEANING EARTH REAMER3 Sheets$heet 3 Filed April 26, 1937 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-EXPANDING ANDCLEANING EARTH REAM'ER Application April 26, 1937, Serial No. 138,930

4 Claims.

This invention relates to underreamers and it has especial reference toself expanding and cleaning earth reamers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an underreamer forenlarging the area at the bottom of a bore hole or other excavation inthe earth for receiving pillars, piers and the like whereby a foundationis provided for a pier or the like of a more substantial nature thanwhen set in a straight walled hole.

Another and equally important object of the invention, is to provide anapparatus capable of underreaming an excavation beneath the wall line ofa building where it is necessary to reinforce the foundation of thebuilding with additional piers, and this may be done through the mediumof the invention so that these piers are substantially in verticalplane. By thus setting the piers, with an anchorage such'as provided 2Qby underreaming, there will be no further tendency on the part of thebuilding foundation, to settle as would be the case if the reinforcementwas set up at an angle under the walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide for both manual andautomatic operation of the underreamer through the provision ofinterchangeable elements conforming to the frame of the underreamer andadapted, each for its particular means of operation.

1 Another object of the invention is to provide for elevation ofcuttings from the excavation by suitable power means thereby eliminatingthat this labor be done manually.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which the cavityat the bottom of a hole or excavation may be made larger by the simpleexpedient of changing the blades of the tool, which operation requiresbut a minimum of time and labor.

Broadly, the invention seeks to provide simple apparatus forunderreaming holes and excavations, both in close areas such asdescribed and in open areas and in either case, the provision of selfexpanding underreamers, requiring only rotation of a common shaft at thesurface to effect constant and uniform movement of the tool, with anunderreaming action.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the

invention has particular reference to its salient features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as thedescription proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: 55; Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of theinvention showing an underreamer for work in open areas.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view showing the cutters contracted.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on lines 3-3 6 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one cutter and arm.

Figure 6 is an elevation of another form of underreamer for close andrestricted areas, showing the cutters extended.

Figure 7 is a perspective view in detail of the frame supporting theoperating gear for the underreamer.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, showing thebrace supporting the rotating shaft and centralizing socket for theoperating gear.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view of the wedging means, holding theframe rigid with respect to the mass under which the underreamer isoperated.

Figure 10 is a detail view partly in section, showing the lengthadjustment of the shaft by which the underreamer is operated at a pointspaced from its vertical axis.

Figure 11 is a transverse section of the tool shown in Figure 6.

Figure 12 is a section on lines l2-I2 on Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the frame, power unit, centering andholding means.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the means for increasing theeffective height of the frame, and

Figure 15 is a detail perspective view of the support for the power unitshown in Figure 13.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, it is firstpointed out that while the principle remains unchanged, the invention isembodied in two forms of underreamer, that is, one form whose length isaffected as the cutters are moved and another form whose length remainsthe same as the cutters are displaced. The first form is employed inopen and unrestricted areas while the companion form is particularlyadapted for underreaming excavations or holes under a buildingfoundation or other mass preparatory to the installation of auxiliary oradditional supporting piers where the foundation has settled or isconsidered to be improperly reinforced. In either case, however,manipulation of the cutters is the same and the movement of these.cutters is analogous.

In the following description, reference to the first mentioned form ofthe invention is made as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and inwhich the reference character I designates a hole in the earth, made byany type of drill or auger suitable for the purpose. The invention, withits cutters in the position shown in Figure 2 is then set in the hole I,whereupon it is rotated toeffect expansion of its cutter blades, in thearcuate manner shown'in the bottom of the hole to create the cavity 2therein. Afterwards, the operation is reversed to contract the cutterblades to enable the tool to be withdrawn and to removain-convenientbuckets or receptacles, surplus earth cuttings.

The tool is comprised primarily-of a tubular body 3, into the lower endof which extends another tubular member 4. Afiixedto the ;bottom ofmember 4 is a cylindrical element 5 which will be hereinafter referredto as a bucket and which is divided into as many compartments as thereare cutter blades and in the present case, there are three of thelatter. Hence these compartments, as the blades are-elevated,receivecuttings from the bladesfor conveyance to the surface. Inaddition to being divided into compartments, the bucket-5 has radialslots 6 struck out of the bottom of each compartment, with :blades onone edge, all projectedin the direction of effective rotation of thebucket 5.

These blades are not intended entirely as .cutting blades but merely ameans to maintain vertical position of the tool as the cavity 2 iscreated by arcuate movement of the cutter blades.

Within the tubular member 4 is disposed axially, a threaded stem onshaft I which is held against longitudinal displacement relative tomember 4 by a disc 8, aflixed to its lower end below the bottom of thebucket 5 and .a pin .9, extending transversely therethrough, .above abushing .10 within member 4 above the bottom of bucket 5. Thisconstruction is shown in Figure 4.

The shaft 1 therefore is free to rotate in the tubular member 4 andsince its upper end is threaded into the solid portion zl I -of thetubular body 3 at a (Fig. 4) the shaft 1 .is constrained to movelongitudinally as 'theibody 3 is rotated, provisions for which rotationare made at the upper end of the body in the form ofastem 12 with asquared portion I3 (Fig. 1-) on itsextreme upper end, and to whichfurther reference will be later made.

Surrounding the body 3 intermediate its ends is a collar l4, welded orotherwise affixed thereto. Projecting from this collar at threeequidistant points are ears l5. Pivoted in these ears are the upper endsof downwardly directed arms I6. The lower ends of arms l6 are pivoted to.arms I! (Fig. 5) and which latter arms are rigidly attached to thecutters l8 adjacent one end and pivoted at their opposite ends at b tocars l9, aflixed to the lower end of the .inner tubular member 4, (Fig.4) which fixation point is, of course in alinement with the pivotalpoint 15 of the upper ends of arms I6 on the tubular housing or casing3.

In order to prevent undue strain on arms IS in the operation of the:tool, a key 16' is aflixed to the tubular member 4 and extends througha slot [6 in the body 3.

Accordingly, when the anchor pins '20 of the disc 8 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4)are set into the bottom of the hole I and the tubular casing 3 rotated,the shaft 1 will remain. stationary while the easing 3 will movedownward telescopically therewhich edges are interchangeable orreplaceable.

Thus, the earth cuttings which are displaced in the downward operationof the blades are received by the cylindrical element or bucket 5 of thetool when the cutter blades are contracted by reverse rotation of thebody 3, for conveyance to the surface for disposal.

The means by which the tool is operated in the hole I may be a form ofdevice such as shown in Figure 1, consisting of a shaft 23, having asquared end 24 received by a socket 25 of a universal joint 26. Anotherand similar socket '21 of this joint receives the squared pin l3 of thecasing 3 of the underreamer.

The shaft 23 extends out of the hole I and carries a cross arm 28 orother means to effect rotation of the shaft 23, thereby to operate theunderreamer.

A guide or centering device, shown in Figure 1 is comprised of a seriesof flexible arms 29, depending from a collar 30, secured to the shaft23. By this means, the shaft is held in a central position in the holewithout interference with uniform rotation of the body of the tool inthe hole.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 15inclusive, it is pointed out .in Figure 1 that the heretofore difficultproblem of underreaming an excavation or hole heneath the foundation ofa building is rendered less difficult by the invention. An excavation 3|is made directly under the wall 32 of the building, at the pointselected for additional reinforcment. A hole 33 is bored to a desireddepth, and the underreamer inserted into the hole.

However, to make the work easier, a frame such as shown in Figures 6 and'7 is disposed in the cavity 3| and is comprised of an angle iron base34 which is disposed on the bottom of the cavity 3|. A pair of uprights35 extend upward from theframe andare braced by a pair of angularmembers 36 (Fig. 7). A cross member 31 extends from the top of oneupright 35 to the other.

To secure the frame against displacement from its position shown inFigure 6, wedges 38 are driven into the space between the cross-member31 and the lower edge of the wall or building foundation 32 (Figures 6and 9).

The frame is further provided with a projecting bearing 39, secured tothe cross-member 31 midway between its ends and serves as an upperbearing for the operating or driving shaft 40 for the underreamer, andto which further reference will be made presently.

The tool comprising the present form of the invention, like the form setforth in the foregoing, has a cylindrical or tubular body 41, aboutwhich is a skeleton sleeve 42. Carried upon the lower end of the body 4|is a segmental or partitioned bucket or receptacle 43 having slots 44 inits bottom, serving as blades to collect surplus cuttings from thebottom of the hole as the tool is rotated.

-to the cross member 31.

Within and in axial alignment with the body 4| this rod is a spider 46having arms 41. These arms are bifurcated at their outerends topivotallyreceive at c, the arms 48, which latter, at their lower ends, arepivoted at d (Fig. 12) to the blades 49 at a point adjacentthe'ircuttingedges and midway between the outer and inner ends of theseblades.

The blades 49 are pivoted at e (Fig. 12) at points equally spaced aboutthe lower end of the body 4| and these blades have side walls to definea sort of shovel to retain the earth cuttings as they are loosened. Whenthe blades are contracted or moved to the position shown in Figure I2after operating in the hole, the retained cuttings are dumped into thebucket or receptacle 43 for conveyance to the surface as the tool iswithdrawn from the hole.

To operate the tool, a shaft 50 is affixed to the upper end of the body4| and has a squared end (Fig. 6). Over this end is disposed one end ofa tubular extension 52 which is employed in cases where the hole 33 isof such depth that the squared portion 5| of shaft 56 will not riseabove the base 34 of the frame shown.

The shaft 40 (Fig. 6) has a universal joint 53, the lower end of whichis provided with a socket to engage over the squared upper end of theshaft 59. The universal joint 53 enables shaft 46 to be operated at anangle with respect to the rotating axis of the tool so that the lattermay be operated vertically while shaft 49, held rotatably by bearing 39may extend from under the obstructing foundation or wall 32 forrotation.

A crank 54 or other means for operating shaft 40 is provided thereon.

When the underreamer is properly stationed in the hole 33, a cross brace55 is moved into a position from one side of the base 34 of the frame tothe other so that the shaft 59 of the tool will be received in theaperture 56 in the said cross brace 55, thereby holding the tool in acentral position in the hole. The universal joint 53 is then mounted onthe shaft 56, after which the operating shaft 49 is inserted through theaperture in the projecting bearing 39 and engaged with the other sectionof the universal joint 53. The anchoring means 51, affixed to the lowerend of the screw rod 45 prevents rotation of the latter and allows thebody 4| to revolve about the same and since the body carries the cutterblades 49, these are rendered operative to uniformally cut the earth andto move outward as the spider 46 travels on the threads of the rod 45.

In some cases it is desirable to employ power means to operate theunderreamer. Such a means is shown in Figure 13 in which a gear box 58is provided having a horizontal shaft 59 carrying a gear 69, disposedwithin the gear box 59. This gear is enmeshed by a gear 6|, which iscon.- nected with the extension coupling 52 of shaft 50, the latterdriving the underreamer just described. The stub shaft 62 extendsthrough the top of the gear box 58 and is received by a socket or sleeve63 (Fig. 8) which socket is threaded onto a depending threaded member64, secured By maniplating the socket or sleeve 63 the power unitdescribed may be secured or removed from its position in the,

frame, as shown in Figure 13.

The shaft 59 of the power unit carries a pulley 64, disposed on theoutside of a reinforcing brace 65, extending from. the gear box 58 to apoint ad jacent said gear and is turned upward and apertured to receivethe saidshaft 59. This pulley 64 is grooved to receive a belt,particularly of the V type but it is understood that a sprocket, gear orother type of driving means may be employed.

In order to support the power unit described, in the frame, a mounting66 (Fig. 15) is provided and secured in the frame by bolts 61 (Fig. 7)on the base 34 of the frame which are received by slots-68in the legs ofthe mounting 66. (Fig. 13) received by apertures in the mounting 65 holdthe power unit in secure position in the frame as the same is operatedto transmit rotary motion in the underreamer.

Should it be desired to increase the height of the frame shown in Figure7, the structure illustrated in Figure 14 is provided. This arrangementconsists of uprights ll of angle iron, whose lower ends are bolted tothe sides of the uprights 35 of the frame (Fig. 7). These uprights 1|have a cross member 12, similar to the member 31, in Figure 7, even tothe projecting bearing 13 for the reception of an operating shaft,comparable to the shaft 46 in Figure 6, and the threaded socket orsleeve 14, comparable to the element 63 in Figure 7, for rigidifying thepower unit shown in Figure 13 and just described.

In some cases, the shafts, such as the shafts '46 and 50 in Figure 6,must be elongated. An

arrangement for this adjustment is shown in Figure 10 wherein isillustrated a sleeve 75, slidable on the shaft to be elongated, and isprovided with aligned apertures 16 for the reception of a bolt 11, whichextends through an aperture in the shaft 59 or 49 as the case may be.

In order that the labor of removing the underreamer laden with cuttingsfrom the hole may be lessened, a winch I8 is provided, carrying a line19, to be received over a pulley 80, thence into the hole to beconnected to the underreamer, thereby to elevate the same to the surfaceafter the desired cavity has been made.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of somemodification and suchmodification as may be construed within the scopeand meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within thespirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An underreamer including a threaded shaft having prongs at its lowerend to engage the earth at the bottom of a bore hole, a base portiondefining a plurality of buckets, an underreaming cutter hingedlyattached to each of said buckets, a spider threadably mounted on saidshaft, toggle means interconnecting said spider and each of said cutterswhereby said cutters are arcuately actuated as said base and cutters arerotated about said shaft.

2. An underreamer including a cylindrical body arranged to be disposedin a bore hole, a segmental bucket mounted adjacent the lower end ofsaid body, a cutter blade pivoted to each of the segments of saidbucket, screw means within said body and anchored in said bore hole, aspider threadably connected to said screw means, toggle meansinterconnecting said spider and each of said cutter blades, and surfacemeans to rotate said body whereby to actuate said cutter blades tounderream said bore hole.

3. An underreamer including a cylindrical body arranged to be disposedin a bore hole, earth cutting means pivoted to said body, screw meanswithin said body and anchored in said bore hole, a spider threadablyconnected to said screw placeable cutter blades operatively connectedthereto, screw :means within said body and anchoredtinsaid bore hole, aspider threadably connected to said .screw means, toggle meansinterconnecting said spider to said cutting means to impart movementthereto, a shaft connected to said body having surface means to rotatesaid shaft and said body.

EMIL H. ZUM-BERGE.

